The Ankeny Centennial softball team knocked off a top-five opponent on Friday at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. Then the Jaguars defeated another one. Centennial opened the tournament with an 11-5 victory over Winterset, the No. 5 team in Class 4A. The Jaguars then posted a 4-3 win over No. 4 Indianola in eight innings. "We played really … [Read more...] about Jaguars knock off pair of top-5 teams at DC-G tournament
Softball
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cassi Garland, Ankeny Centennial softball
Junior outfielder Cassi Garland has helped the Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 22-15 record. Garland is batting .267 with six home runs and 29 RBIs. She boasts a .505 slugging percentage. Here is some inside info on Garland: How is the season going thus far? I think the season is going as well as we could have hoped for. I think that we have … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cassi Garland, Ankeny Centennial softball
Jaguars fall to S.E. Polk, will play 2 more ranked foes on Friday
There wasn't a lot at stake for the Ankeny Centennial softball team on Thursday at Southeast Polk. It's the game a week from now that really matters. The Jaguars dropped a 7-3 decision to Southeast Polk in a make-up CIML Central Conference game. The 13th-ranked Rams snapped a six-game losing skid while improving to 8-9 in the conference and 17-12 … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to S.E. Polk, will play 2 more ranked foes on Friday
Jaguars sweep past Ames, snap 3-game losing skid
It took only 24 hours for the Ankeny Centennial softball team to turn a losing skid into a winning streak. The Jaguars rebounded from a doubleheader loss to Valley on Tuesday by sweeping both ends of a CIML Central Conference twinbill on Wednesday at Ames, snapping their three-game losing streak. They posted an 11-6 victory in the opener before winning … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Ames, snap 3-game losing skid
Valley erupts for 8 runs in 5th inning to complete sweep of Jaguars
The Ankeny Centennial softball team showed on Tuesday that it has the potential to make some noise in next week's Class 5A regional tournament. The Jaguars also showed that they still have a ways to go. Centennial jumped out to a 7-1 lead against ninth-ranked Valley in the second game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader before the visiting Tigers … [Read more...] about Valley erupts for 8 runs in 5th inning to complete sweep of Jaguars
Thomas’ grand slam lifts Hawkettes past Centennial in 10-9 thriller
Even when Kennedy Thomas thinks she has hit a pop fly, the ball often carries over the fence. Thomas hit a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the eighth-ranked Ankeny softball team to a 10-9 victory at rival Ankeny Centennial in a rain-shortened game on Monday. "I did get a pitch I was looking for on the … [Read more...] about Thomas’ grand slam lifts Hawkettes past Centennial in 10-9 thriller
Jaguars beat 3 ranked foes, finish 4-0 at Prange Classic
The Ankeny Centennial softball team will take a six-game winning streak into Monday's doubleheader against crosstown rival Ankeny after posting a perfect 4-0 record in the Brent Prange Classic over the weekend. The Jaguars improved to 18-11 overall with a 9-1 win on Saturday over Ballard (Huxley), the No. 13 team in Class 4A. It was their third victory … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat 3 ranked foes, finish 4-0 at Prange Classic
Hawkettes earn No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 2
By moving up to No. 8 in Class 5A in the latest rankings, the Ankeny softball team also earned a No. 1 seed for the upcoming regional tournaments. The Hawkettes (21-7) have been placed in Region 2 by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. They will host a semifinal game against Council Bluffs Jefferson (13-8) or Council Bluffs Lincoln (5-17) on July … [Read more...] about Hawkettes earn No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 2
Olson hits 3 homers as Jaguars complete sweep over Lincoln
For much of the season, Ankeny Centennial slugger Chloe Olson has struggled to find her groove at the plate. She appears to have found it. Olson slugged three home runs and had seven RBIs as the Jaguars rolled to a 14-2 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in three innings to complete a sweep of a non-conference softball doubleheader on … [Read more...] about Olson hits 3 homers as Jaguars complete sweep over Lincoln
Jaguars may need to rely on deep pitching staff down the stretch
It's a good thing that the Ankeny Centennial softball team has several dependable pitchers. The Jaguars may need them all down the stretch. Haley Gatica, the team's No.1 pitcher, is battling a wrist injury. She took the loss in the first game of Monday's doubleheader at Southeast Polk. Gatica (9-5) allowed four hits in five innings as the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars may need to rely on deep pitching staff down the stretch
Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament
The Ankeny Centennial softball team defeated Norwalk for the second time in two days, 6-1, to earn a third-place finish in the Barney Dennis Elite Eight tournament on Saturday at Johnston. Taylor Runchey drove in four runs as the Jaguars improved their record to 12-10. Ella Schulz and Cassi Garland each went 2-for-3 in the win. "Norwalk pitched their … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament
Centennial softball team blanked twice at No. 9 Johnston
Two steps forward, two steps back. After sweeping a doubleheader against then-No. 4 Waukee on Wednesday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team struggled on Thursday at ninth-ranked Johnston, dropping both ends of a non-conference twinbill without scoring a run. The Dragons posted a 6-0 victory in the opener, then won the nightcap in five innings, 11-0, … [Read more...] about Centennial softball team blanked twice at No. 9 Johnston
Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee
Randy Schneider has been saying for weeks that his Ankeny Centennial softball team is capable of beating some of the CIML's top squads. The Jaguars not only did that on Wednesday, but they did it twice. Centennial swept both games of a Central Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee, 5-4 and 7-5. The fourth-ranked Warriors had won the previous … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee
Schulz hits walk-off single to complete Jaguars’ sweep over Ames
If there's any pressure on Ella Schulz, the Ankeny Centennial freshman doesn't seem to feel it. Schulz has been batting third for the Jaguars' softball team most of the season, putting her in a position where she's expected to produce some runs. On Tuesday, she did exactly that with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving … [Read more...] about Schulz hits walk-off single to complete Jaguars’ sweep over Ames
Jaguars knock off Class 4A No. 4 ADM, finish 2-2 at tournament
The Ankeny Centennial softball team is embracing its tough early-season schedule. The Jaguars played three more ranked opponents at the ADM Invitational on Friday and Saturday. They went 2-2 at the tournament and are now 5-7 on the season with three one-run losses while playing nine ranked teams in their first 12 games. "We love our schedule," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars knock off Class 4A No. 4 ADM, finish 2-2 at tournament
Centennial softball team tumbles twice to No. 5 Tigers
The Ankeny Centennial softball team proved on Monday that it can play with one of the state's best squads. Now, the Jaguars need to figure out a way to beat one of those top teams. Centennial dropped both games of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader at fifth-ranked Valley, 1-0 and 5-1. The Jaguars fell to 0-4 in the league and 2-4 overall. "We … [Read more...] about Centennial softball team tumbles twice to No. 5 Tigers
New Centennial softball coach wants Jaguars to ‘keep applying pressure’ on basepaths
For the first time since the 1990s, Randy Schneider is calling pitches from the dugout. The new head coach of the Ankeny Centennial softball team is enjoying his return to the high school game after spending most of his career in the collegiate ranks, where he was primarily an offensive coach. "I really haven't sat and called pitches in 20-some years," … [Read more...] about New Centennial softball coach wants Jaguars to ‘keep applying pressure’ on basepaths
Unbeaten S.E. Polk holds off Centennial rally to sweep doubleheader
A late rally fell short, and the Ankeny Centennial softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk on Thursday. After Southeast Polk posted a 6-2 victory in the first game, the Rams built a 4-1 lead in the nightcap of the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams. The Jaguars then rallied for two runs in the bottom of … [Read more...] about Unbeaten S.E. Polk holds off Centennial rally to sweep doubleheader
Jaguars open baseball, softball fields with sweeps over Hoover
The opening of Ankeny Centennial's new baseball and softball complex was a smashing success. The Jaguars began the 2018 season on Monday by hosting doubleheaders against Des Moines Hoover on both fields. They ended up sweeping both twinbills. "It was a nice way to open the new fields and the season," said Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey, whose team … [Read more...] about Jaguars open baseball, softball fields with sweeps over Hoover
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball
Chloe Olson is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior forward helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 19-4 record this season. Olson averaged a team-high 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Jaguars. She made 51.3 percent of her shots from the field. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball